Native YouTube TV app coming to Apple TV 'very soon'

People wanting to watch Google's YouTube TV on an Apple TV will soon be able to do so natively, without AirPlay, a YouTube representative said on Thursday.

A promised tvOS app is "coming very soon," the representative explained to CNET. Today marks the launch of a native Roku app, with access to standard features such as recommendations, a program guide, and cloud DVR functions.

Google was originally aiming at a 2017 Apple TV launch, but in December admitted that it would miss that window.

A native Apple TV client should provide a true "lean back" experience, whereas AirPlay requires that people push content from their iOS device.

Unlike the regular version of YouTube, YouTube TV is a live, U.S.-only TV service costing $35 per month. It was initially available on just a handful of platforms, but can now be watched via options ranging from iOS and Android through to the Xbox One and some LG, Sony, and Samsung TVs.

The service's channel bundle is mostly focused on the major broadcast networks —ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox —as well as their associated offerings. It continues to lack content from Turner and Viacom, such as CNN and the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim.